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Minister Plate urges older adults to get vaccinated
Written by Nur Yasmin
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Minister of Communication and Informatics, Johnny G. Plate, has asked older adults to get vaccinated without delay considering that they face the highest risk of death due to COVID-19.
"Let's take and accompany our elderly parents or relatives to the nearest vaccination booth. For those who have motor limitations, help make it easier for them to visit the location. If there are other concerns, such as comorbidities, accompany them to the doctor for expert advice," the minister said in a statement released on Monday afternoon.
Plate asked all parties, including families, to ensure older adults get vaccinated.
"Ensure they immediately get the vaccination jab to reduce the risk of serious illness and death. We know that older adults have a high risk of mortality," he said.
In addition, he also asked regional governments to make a strategy to expedite vaccinations and overcome the obstacles that hinder them.
As of September 27, 2021, the number of older adults in Indonesia who have received the first vaccine dose has reached 6.25 million, or just 29 percent of the total target, he noted. Meanwhile, only 4.3 million older adults have received the second dose or 19.9 percent of the 21,553,118 targeted older adults nationwide, he added.
Aside from expediting vaccinations for older adults, Plate also asked all parties to cooperate to prevent a spike in COVID-19 cases in the country, even though the handling continues to improve.
He appealed to the public to adhere to the health protocols by remaining disciplined in wearing masks, avoiding crowds, washing hands, and getting vaccinated immediately.
As part of efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic, the Indonesian government launched a nationwide vaccination program on January 13, 2021. According to data from the Health Ministry, as of September 27, 2021, as many as 87,742,907 citizens have received their first COVID-19 vaccine dose and 49,198,111 Indonesians have been fully vaccinated against the virus. (antaranews)
